CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Studies (Level 3)

Who is the course for?

This unit/qualification is for candidates who have already acquired some counselling skills and now want to continue their training. It will not qualify candidates to be counsellors, but it will prepare them to undertake workplace experience as trainee counsellors

About CPCAB:

CPCAB (The Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) is a UK awarding body that is managed by professional counsellors, trainers and supervisors. Now in their 18th year of operation, they are the only awarding body in Europe to specialise in the field of counselling. They are one of the largest awarding bodies in this field. All CPCAB qualifications have been updated and revised in 2010 to reflect the most recent research findings on the effectiveness of counselling and to anticipate the proposed requirements of statutory regulation.

What will I study?

Students will study the following subjects (based on the learning outcomes of the CPCAB):

• Prepare to work within an ethical framework for counselling
  Apply understanding of an ethical framework to counselling practice sessions
  Explain the importance of working within limits of proficiency
  Describe the ethical, legal and procedural framework in which an agency operates �
  Demonstrate understanding of client assessment and referral in an agency setting

• Understanding the counselling relationship
  Explain the nature and constraints of the counsellor role within different settings
  Establish and sustain the boundaries of the counsellor role in counselling practice sessions
  Explain how the counselling relationship contributes to the counselling work
  Manage the stages of the counselling relationship

• Understand difference and diversity issues to develop empathic understanding
  Identify and reflect on diversity within personal relationships
  Identify and reflect on a range of diversity issues in the wider social context
  Apply awareness of diversity issues to enhance empathic understanding

• Work within a user-centred approach to counselling
  Establish the client’s needs and expectations when agreeing to work together
  Maintain the focus on the client’s agenda and needs

• Use counselling theory to develop self-awareness in counselling practice
  Use counselling theory to understand own personality
  Use counselling theory to understand own personal history
  Use counselling theory to understand own relationships
  Evidence how self-awareness contributes to the ability to empathise with others
  Understand theories of counselling and mental health

• Explain why theory is important in counselling work
  Describe the main theoretical approaches to counselling
  Use counselling theory to understand the client
  Explain the nature of common mental health problems
  Describe how counselling can promote positive mental health
  Explain why research findings are important in counselling work

• Use feedback, reflection and supervision to support counselling studies
  Use feedback from others to develop understanding of counselling
  Give constructive feedback to other counselling trainees
  Describe the nature and use of clinical supervision
  Use supervisee skills to contribute to, and learn from, case discussion

Assessment:
This qualification is assessed via student portfolio and one externally assessed written paper, the assessed paper is a written report which will be done following watching a CPCAB DVD and is undertaken under exam conditions.

How will the course be delivered?

The course will be delived in the University Centre on the main campus in Blackburn

Course Entry Criteria

Candidates are required to have undertaken CPCAB’s Certificate in Counselling Skills course or an equivalent course of at least 75 hours duration.

This qualification is not suitable for those who are currently in a state of severe emotional difficulty or severe psychological confusion as the course involves personal disclosure and personal development activities. An informal chat with the course leader is required before any candidate will be accepted onto the course.

Please note that this course will not teach candidates how to be counsellors, but it will give them counselling skills that are useful in a variety of roles (and may help them to decide whether or not they want to train as a counsellor). Roles might include key working, care assistant, support worker or teaching assistant. Areas of work could include mental health, the homeless, substance misuse, education and health and social care.

Participants must be over the age of 19 (as stipulated by CPCAB).

An informal chat with the course leader is required before any person will be entitled to attend on this course.

The college operates a no refunds policy as detailed below. Cancellations and transfer requests are subject to the following conditions:

• More than 4 weeks notice – no charge
• 4 weeks notice – 30% of the cost
• 2-3 weeks notice – 50% of the cost
• 1-2 weeks notice – 75% of the cost
• Less than 1 weeks notice – 100% of the cost

All cancellations must be made in writing and are subject to a £10 administration charge. The full fee’s policy is available on request.

What will I get at the end of the course?

Certificate in Counselling Studies accredited by CPCAB at Level 3

What can I do next?

This Level III Certificate in Counselling Studies course is the next step in the pathway leading to one of two recently established Foundation Degrees – Counselling with Brief Interventions and Counselling with Coaching and Mentoring. Direct progression from this course would be to CPCAB’s Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (which will be available in 2014). The course leader will advise each student personally as to their best educational route.

How much does it cost?

The course fee for enrolment onto this course is £895.00 (inclusive of CPCAB registration fees).

(Prices subject to change)